STORM UPDATE: Snow ends early after 4-5 inch accumulation

Published 8:46 am, Friday, January 21, 2011

UPDATE: The fast-moving winter storm that swept across southwestern Connecticut early this morning has begun easing far earlier than forecast.

As of 8 a.m., snow has largely stopped falling after fluffy accumulations of about 4 inches.

There is, however, another weather warning in store today: possible coastal flooding.

The National Weather Service says that some coastal flooding could occur in low-lying coastal areas today at high tide -- about noon -- because a low-pressure area south of Long Island could result in a tidal surge of between a foot and a foot and one-half.

Schools throughout the area called off classes early.

Metro-North Railroad, which has been plagued by problems during this winter's earlier storms, today is running on time and no schedule changes, forced earlier this week by repairs to overhead power lines, are being reported.

Travel on major highways and local roads has been slowed by the snowfall, and while accidents have been reported, none so far appear to be serious.

HERE'S THE WEATHER OUTLOOK POSTED AT 4:30 A.M.:

Light snow has been falling across southwestern Connecticut for several hours as of 4 a.m. this morning, and when it tapers off as by late morning, accumulations are expected to be about 3 to 5 inches.

The National Weather Service says storm will move out of the region by 11 a.m., and warns that even though the amount of snow is not expected to be significant, the fresh snow will make roads slippery during the morning commute. It will also cover ice in spots, which will make surfaces particularly hazardous.

The daytime high will be about 34 degrees, with a north wind 8 to 11 mph increasing to between 19 and 22 mph.

Tonight will the very cold, with a low around 13. However, it will feel as though it is minus-2 degrees because of wind gusts clocked between 17 and 22 mph.

Saturday will be cloudy and cold, with a high near 22 degrees, according to NWS. The northwest wind at 10 mph, but gusting to up 20 mph, will produce wind-chill values of minus-1. Clouds will prevail Saturday night, too, with a low temperature of about 10 degrees.

Sunday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 24. There will be a northwest wind between 7 and 13 mph.

And Monday will be sunny as well, with a high near 22 degrees, the weather service predicts.